SameTeem
Search titles only
By:
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Home
Forums
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
What's new
Featured content
Media
Resources
Free TeamSpeak Channel
TeamSpeak
TeamSpeak
Vote
Rank System
Make a Channel
Free Channel Information
Servers
Sourcebans
New posts
SameTeem
Home
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
Featured content
Media
Resources
Free TeamSpeak Channel
TeamSpeak
Vote
Rank System
Make a Channel
Free Channel Information
Servers
Sourcebans
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
Install the app
Install
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
Download TeamSpeak Today
Proudly sponsored by TeamSpeak
Forums
News and Announcements
Gaming News
Subnautica 2 Drama Gets Even Messier As Krafton Confirms Internal Document Leak Is Real
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Admin" data-source="post: 67878" data-attributes="member: 1"><p><img src="https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2023/11/22/sub-1700652246814.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></p><p>Amid an increasingly bitter row over a $250 million bonus, Krafton has now chosen to confirm a leaked <a href="https://www.ign.com/games/subnautica-2" target="_blank"><u>Subnautica 2</u></a> development document purportedly criticizing the highly-anticipated sequel is, in fact, real.</p><p></p><p>But first, some context. <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/pubg-parent-company-buys-subnautica-studio" target="_blank"><u>Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021</u></a> and at the time, <a href="https://krafton.com/en/news/press/krafton-inc-to-acquire-unknown-worlds-the-developers-behind-subnautica-and-natural-selection/" target="_blank"><u>said</u></a> the Subnautica studio would continue to operate as an independent outfit. Last week, however, former Striking Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, joined Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds as CEO. The shock announcement confirmed that the previous leadership team — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/subnautica-2-developers-entire-leadership-team-replaced-in-shock-move-krafton-said-will-bring-renewed-energy-and-momentum" target="_blank"><u>were replaced "effective immediately</u></a>." In a subsequent statement, co-founder Cleveland responded to what he called the "shock" decision to replace the leadership team, <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/ousted-subnautica-2-developer-breaks-silence-after-shock-removal-to-find-that-im-no-longer-able-to-work-at-the-company-i-started-stings" target="_blank"><u>saying that "after all these years, to find that I’m no longer able to work at the company I started stings."</u></a> The statement also intimated that while the former leadership team considered the game ready for early access release, Krafton did not.</p><p></p><p>Then, last week, reports came to light that Subnautica 2 had been delayed to 2026 just months before Krafton was due to pay <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/more-drama-in-the-murky-world-of-subnautica-2-as-official-delay-confirmation-comes-hot-on-the-heels-of-damaging-report-into-now-unlikely-250m-bonus" target="_blank"><u>a $250 million bonus to the development team</u></a>. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/krafton-delays-subnautica-2-game-ahead-of-250-million-payout" target="_blank"><u>Bloomberg</u></a> said the delay was “against the wishes of the studio’s former leadership,” and that the $250 million bonus would have kicked in if Unknown Worlds hit certain revenue targets by the end of 2025. Now, without Subnautica 2 coming out this year, that bonus wouldn’t be paid out.</p><p></p><p></p><p>In a statement to IGN, Krafton insisted the decision had nothing to do with “any contractual or financial considerations.” Instead, Krafton claimed, the delay was about responding to feedback from playtests, and delay talks were already under discussion before Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill were outed. Shortly after this statement, <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/ousted-subnautica-2-leadership-files-lawsuit-against-parent-company-krafton-as-row-over-250m-bonus-gets-personal" target="_blank"><u>the former leadership team revealed they were filing a lawsuit against Krafton</u></a>.</p><p></p><p>And now the drama continues, with the leak of <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Subnautica_2/comments/1lwyorm/a_leak_from_a_credible_source_regarding_the/" target="_blank"><u>an internal review document</u></a> that shares a less-than-stellar mid-cycle review. Rather than deny the leak, however, Krafton has authenticated it, saying: "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary and has chosen to confirm the authenticity of the document."</p><p></p><p>The leaked images themselves show <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Subnautica_2/comments/1lwyorm/a_leak_from_a_credible_source_regarding_the/" target="_blank"><u>two pages of a development review</u></a>, and appear to be photographs of a PC monitor. They show the disconnect between where Krafton expected development to be versus the as-is position. While we don't know who or which company authored the report, it's clearly critical of Unknown Worlds, recommending Subnautica 2 should "launch with an MVP-level build that allows players to experience the core loop at a high level of quality," but adding that, as it currently stood, the game "lacks the level of polish and market impact required to drive IP growth and expansion."</p><p></p><p>"It is recommended to enhance the content volume and level of polish before launching so that it can appeal to a broader market from the [early access] release stage," the report says. "While the game includes a variety of content, it currently lacks the freshness and volume expected of a sequel.</p><p></p><p>"In addition, it falls short of meeting the high expectations of the OWSC and the Asian market."</p><p></p><p>It is currently unclear how the leaked document began circulating publicly online.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>"Krafton is issuing the following statement in response to growing speculation surrounding the development of Subnautica 2," Krafton said in a statement to <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/in-latest-subnautica-2-twist-krafton-confirms-this-leaked-internal-review-document-is-real" target="_blank"><u>Eurogamer</u></a>. "This statement aims to offer clarity and context regarding the current situation.</p><p></p><p>"The document that has been circulating on social media and reported by various outlets is indeed part of an internal milestone review conducted as part of the Subnautica 2 project. Krafton has confirmed that portions of it have been leaked and are now being widely shared across online platforms and within the fan community. Krafton recognises the confusion this has caused.</p><p></p><p>"Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary and has chosen to confirm the authenticity of the document," the publisher added. "Krafton believes that minimising speculation and ensuring accurate communication with players must take precedence.</p><p></p><p>"Milestone reviews are conducted regularly in collaboration with Krafton's creative studios across all projects. These reviews help assess development progress, define clear objectives, and ensure that each project aligns with Krafton's standards in both creativity and quality. This process is central to Krafton's commitment to delivering polished, high-quality games at the right time.</p><p></p><p>"Krafton will continue working closely with Unknown Worlds to ensure that Subnautica 2 meets the expectations of players who have supported the franchise over the years," the statement concluded.</p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at </em><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/vixx.bsky.social" target="_blank"><em>BlueSky</em></a><em>.</em></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/subnautica-2-drama-gets-even-messier-as-krafton-confirms-internal-document-leak-is-real" target="_blank">Continue reading...</a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Admin, post: 67878, member: 1"] [IMG]https://assets-prd.ignimgs.com/2023/11/22/sub-1700652246814.jpg[/IMG] Amid an increasingly bitter row over a $250 million bonus, Krafton has now chosen to confirm a leaked [URL='https://www.ign.com/games/subnautica-2'][U]Subnautica 2[/U][/URL] development document purportedly criticizing the highly-anticipated sequel is, in fact, real. But first, some context. [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/pubg-parent-company-buys-subnautica-studio'][U]Krafton acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021[/U][/URL] and at the time, [URL='https://krafton.com/en/news/press/krafton-inc-to-acquire-unknown-worlds-the-developers-behind-subnautica-and-natural-selection/'][U]said[/U][/URL] the Subnautica studio would continue to operate as an independent outfit. Last week, however, former Striking Distance CEO, Steve Papoutsis, joined Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds as CEO. The shock announcement confirmed that the previous leadership team — Ted Gill, Charlie Cleveland, and Max McGuire — [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/subnautica-2-developers-entire-leadership-team-replaced-in-shock-move-krafton-said-will-bring-renewed-energy-and-momentum'][U]were replaced "effective immediately[/U][/URL]." In a subsequent statement, co-founder Cleveland responded to what he called the "shock" decision to replace the leadership team, [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/ousted-subnautica-2-developer-breaks-silence-after-shock-removal-to-find-that-im-no-longer-able-to-work-at-the-company-i-started-stings'][U]saying that "after all these years, to find that I’m no longer able to work at the company I started stings."[/U][/URL] The statement also intimated that while the former leadership team considered the game ready for early access release, Krafton did not. Then, last week, reports came to light that Subnautica 2 had been delayed to 2026 just months before Krafton was due to pay [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/more-drama-in-the-murky-world-of-subnautica-2-as-official-delay-confirmation-comes-hot-on-the-heels-of-damaging-report-into-now-unlikely-250m-bonus'][U]a $250 million bonus to the development team[/U][/URL]. [URL='https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-09/krafton-delays-subnautica-2-game-ahead-of-250-million-payout'][U]Bloomberg[/U][/URL] said the delay was “against the wishes of the studio’s former leadership,” and that the $250 million bonus would have kicked in if Unknown Worlds hit certain revenue targets by the end of 2025. Now, without Subnautica 2 coming out this year, that bonus wouldn’t be paid out. In a statement to IGN, Krafton insisted the decision had nothing to do with “any contractual or financial considerations.” Instead, Krafton claimed, the delay was about responding to feedback from playtests, and delay talks were already under discussion before Cleveland, McGuire, and Gill were outed. Shortly after this statement, [URL='https://www.ign.com/articles/ousted-subnautica-2-leadership-files-lawsuit-against-parent-company-krafton-as-row-over-250m-bonus-gets-personal'][U]the former leadership team revealed they were filing a lawsuit against Krafton[/U][/URL]. And now the drama continues, with the leak of [URL='https://www.reddit.com/r/Subnautica_2/comments/1lwyorm/a_leak_from_a_credible_source_regarding_the/'][U]an internal review document[/U][/URL] that shares a less-than-stellar mid-cycle review. Rather than deny the leak, however, Krafton has authenticated it, saying: "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary and has chosen to confirm the authenticity of the document." The leaked images themselves show [URL='https://www.reddit.com/r/Subnautica_2/comments/1lwyorm/a_leak_from_a_credible_source_regarding_the/'][U]two pages of a development review[/U][/URL], and appear to be photographs of a PC monitor. They show the disconnect between where Krafton expected development to be versus the as-is position. While we don't know who or which company authored the report, it's clearly critical of Unknown Worlds, recommending Subnautica 2 should "launch with an MVP-level build that allows players to experience the core loop at a high level of quality," but adding that, as it currently stood, the game "lacks the level of polish and market impact required to drive IP growth and expansion." "It is recommended to enhance the content volume and level of polish before launching so that it can appeal to a broader market from the [early access] release stage," the report says. "While the game includes a variety of content, it currently lacks the freshness and volume expected of a sequel. "In addition, it falls short of meeting the high expectations of the OWSC and the Asian market." It is currently unclear how the leaked document began circulating publicly online. "Krafton is issuing the following statement in response to growing speculation surrounding the development of Subnautica 2," Krafton said in a statement to [URL='https://www.eurogamer.net/in-latest-subnautica-2-twist-krafton-confirms-this-leaked-internal-review-document-is-real'][U]Eurogamer[/U][/URL]. "This statement aims to offer clarity and context regarding the current situation. "The document that has been circulating on social media and reported by various outlets is indeed part of an internal milestone review conducted as part of the Subnautica 2 project. Krafton has confirmed that portions of it have been leaked and are now being widely shared across online platforms and within the fan community. Krafton recognises the confusion this has caused. "Given these circumstances, Krafton has determined that transparent communication is necessary and has chosen to confirm the authenticity of the document," the publisher added. "Krafton believes that minimising speculation and ensuring accurate communication with players must take precedence. "Milestone reviews are conducted regularly in collaboration with Krafton's creative studios across all projects. These reviews help assess development progress, define clear objectives, and ensure that each project aligns with Krafton's standards in both creativity and quality. This process is central to Krafton's commitment to delivering polished, high-quality games at the right time. "Krafton will continue working closely with Unknown Worlds to ensure that Subnautica 2 meets the expectations of players who have supported the franchise over the years," the statement concluded. [I]Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at [/I][URL='https://bsky.app/profile/vixx.bsky.social'][I]BlueSky[/I][/URL][I].[/I] [url="https://www.ign.com/articles/subnautica-2-drama-gets-even-messier-as-krafton-confirms-internal-document-leak-is-real"]Continue reading...[/url] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Forums
News and Announcements
Gaming News
Subnautica 2 Drama Gets Even Messier As Krafton Confirms Internal Document Leak Is Real
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top
